I did find this thought of yours interesting:

“Let’s face it, though, it makes no sense to choose a candidate based on their economic policy, something the Office of the President has little control over thanks to the numerous people involved with setting policy and economic cycles.”

I would have to disagree, being the fact that the president has veto power over taxes and government spending as well as unusually large sway over both these items in regards to proposing budgets and signing trade agreements. Furthermore, Government spending is close to 20% of GDP and tax revenues are 19% or so of GDP and this clearly makes an economic difference.

I think the President is not the driving force behind the economy and takes too much credit and/or blame, but the President (like Congress) definitely has a substantial impact on the economy of the U.S. via taxes, spending, trade agreements, etc.

the republicans only push two things…..open up offshore/alaska drilling and a gas tax holiday. no progressive thought at all (well, its progressive in that it will make some of their oil/exploration friends wealthy).

meanwhile, Toyota is developing a better lithium ion battery to put in their hybrids and developing a plug in version of their electric cars.

why don’t our politicians promote innovation and progress? toyota will control the car market by 2010 is my guess and the american car companies and our government will still be trying to drill for more oil and figure out what to do with all the huge gas using SUV’s sitting on car lots…